Attackers typically try to pass off malware as legitimate applications or as potentially unwanted programs that users deliberately search for and download, such as cheats or cracks. They often rely on ad and affiliate networks to deliver their creations to victims’ devices. This post examines a less conventional case: a well-known backdoor distributed under the guise of adware. The attackers may have chosen this distribution method because the adware was signed by the developer. On top of that, users often manually add these apps to exclusions, so their useful features don’t get blocked.
Some time ago, a client asked us to analyze a file with the MD5 hash c24e99f9437feacaa63766a3cde3fe3d and add it to our detection database. We initially classified it as adware, but a cursory analysis turned up suspicious network activity, which prompted us to dig deeper. It turned out the sample did far more than serve ads. In fact, its advertising functionality doesn’t even work; instead, it triggers an infection chain that delivers the ValleyRAT backdoor.
Read more…
Source: Kaspersky
Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- iPhone users in 98 countries warned about spyware by Apple
July 12, 2024
In April 2024, we reported how Apple was warning people of mercenary attacks via its threat notification system. At the time it warned users in 92 countries. In a new round, Apple is now warning users in 98 countries of potential mercenary spyware attacks. The message sent to the affected users says: “Apple detected that you ...
- Insights on Cyber Threats Targeting Users and Enterprises in Brazil
July 12, 2024
Individuals and organizations in Brazil face a unique cyber threat landscape because it is a complex interplay of global and local threats, posing significant risks to individuals, organizations, and critical sectors of Brazilian society. Many of the cyber espionage threat actors that are prolific in campaigns across the globe are also active in carrying out attempted ...
- OilAlpha targets Arabic-speaking humanitarian NGOs in Yemen
July 12, 2024
OilAlpha continues to target Arabic-speaking entities, as well as those interested in humanitarian organizations and NGOs operating in Yemen. According to reports, users are lured to a deceptive web portal that mimics the generic login interfaces of humanitarian organizations such as CARE International and the Norwegian Refugee Council, with the aim of stealing credentials. It appears ...
- Fake Microsoft Teams for Mac delivers Atomic Stealer
July 12, 2024
Competition between stealers for macOS is heating up, with a new malvertising campaign luring Mac users via a fraudulent advert for Microsoft Teams. This attack comes on the heels of the new Poseidon (OSX.RodStealer) project, another threat using a similar code base and delivery techniques. Based on our tracking, Microsoft Teams is once again a popular ...
- Co-op cyber attack could be any number of things: Cyber security expert
July 12, 2024
Some stores are still dealing with problems on their shelves after a cyber attack against Federated Co-operatives Ltd. two weeks ago, but the company hasn’t said much about what’s going on. Co-op has kept customers updated as bits and pieces like cardlocks come back online, and this week when rumours began circulating about customers’ data being ...
- When spear phishing met mass phishing
July 11, 2024
Bulk phishing email campaigns tend to target large audiences. They use catch-all wordings and simplistic formatting, and typos are not uncommon. Targeted attacks take greater effort, with attackers sending personalized messages that include personal details and might look more like something you’d get from your employer or a customer. Adopting that approach on a larger scale ...